Blue Planet inspired plastics revolution shows way to more sustainable way of living

The BBC series Blue Planet II drew dramatic attention to the damage being done to the environment by plastics.

The response to the programme and much news coverage has seen the use of plastics begin to drop, as people look to use other degradable or reusable material instead.

One of the beneficiaries has been the traditional milk round, the milk man or woman has suddenly become in demand as people return to reusable glass bottles. A number of milk rounds across the land have reported a sudden growth in people using their services.

There have also been moves stop using plastic straws in cafes and coffee shops. Some shops are putting in water taps so that people can fill up their bottles. The consciousness of a need to live a more simple, less destructive, life has suddenly dawned.

This move toward a more environmentally friendly way of living, at one with the planet, is most welcome. It is line with the writings of environmentalists Wendell Berry and Paul Kingsnorth, who both call for a return to more traditional ways of living that are in harmony, rather than in conflict, with the earth.

Kingsnorth moved with his family to Ireland a few years ago, where he works a small holding. Berry, who lives in Kentucky, also puts the basic principles of respect for the earth into practice. He has been working the soil and writing about the subject for more than 50 years. His most recent book: The World Ending Fire is made up of a compilation of articles going back to the 1960s – the prophetic nature of which ring ever truer today.

In England, Ed and Barbara Echlin take a similar approach to life in Bexhill, Sussex.

The developments  on plastic mark a move in the direction of a sustainable planet. Other initiatives of a similar kind are those to reduce car emissions. In the last column, I gave the example of Beal School in east London that has succeeded in reducing car journeys to and from school, whilst also increasing walking.

Some might regard these developments as almost back to the future. This maybe true but the moves are positive. We can wonder at a world that has gone from children routinely walking to school to one where so many go by car.

It has been the excesses of the consumer society that have caused so many of the problems we now have in the modern world.

Climate change and pollution are two obvious results of the consumer society and the uncontrolled neo-liberal market economy.

In his book, Confessions of a recovering environmentalist, Kingsnorth questions the whole concept of progress, which has come to run in tandum with destroying the planet over recent times.

Ofcourse it would be wrong to think that all that is needed to put things right is to go backwards. Many hanker to return to a past mythical time when they believe all was right with the world. This though is wrong, there are things that have been lost during our relentless pursuit of material wealth. These things need to be addressed and put right, but that is not to say that returning to past decades would be good for us all.

There was much abuse of different types going on in those days. There is no bygone golden age.

What we do need is to reconnect with the earth and our own humanity. This means respecting each other and God’s creation. A move to a world of mutual respect and thriving, rather than competitive, often self-destructive, development

The question should be about how we can all live better together in community, not for how long people should be expected to work

There has been much debate recently about living longer and working till you drop. The whole context of extending the retirement age is ridiculous, given that 50% of jobs are going to disappear in the next couple of decades, why should anyone contemplate people working into their 70s and beyond?
The ongoing automation revolution is bringing about dramatic developments across the world, like the introduction of a universal basic income – this is in order to sustain capitalism.
How does making people work longer fit into this scenario – in reality the opposite should be the case, people having more leisure time and retiring early.
The ageing conversation is also always conducted within the comfy confines of white collar work. What construction worker wants to be working at 70?
The idea that everyone is living longer and this is in some way an irreversible trend is questionable. Since the austerity agenda was adopted by the Tories in 2010, the extension of life expectancy has halted and in many areas of the country is in reverse.
There is also the increasingly sedentary nature of so much work added to the obesity epidemic across society  – how when these things are taken into account can the assertion that everyone will live longer moving forward be sustained?
The baby boomers (born between 1945 and the late 1960s) are a long living generation but there is every chance that those falling outside that period may not be so fortunate. Much will depend on whether our society is run for the common good of all or for the benefit of a privileged few. Certainly, the conversation going forward should be about how everyone can live together better in community, not for how long they can work.

Published - Independent - 21/2/2018
Morning Star - 26/2/2018

Support 20 mph zone - you know it makes sense

What is not to like about the 20 s Plenty campaign that recently launched in Wanstead.

The reduction in speed for vehicles makes the roads safer and cuts pollution. Two issues that are high on the priorities of people living in Wanstead – especially those with young children.

 

There were certainly plenty of demands for speed restrictions on local roads at the recent local forum hearing at Wanstead House.

 

At the campaign

launch, Jeremy Leach, the London campaign co-ordinator for 20s Plenty, told how for every 1% reduction in speed there is a 6% cut in casualties on the roads.

 

The group, Living Streets, are keen supporters of the initiative, encouraging people to get out more to exercise and bring the streets to life. It is a somewhat alarming statistic that  39.2% of children at year six age in Redbridge are obese or overweight.

 

Neighbouring Waltham Forest has brought in pedestrianisation measures that have brought the streets back to life, something likely to happen in other areas where similar measures are introduced..

 

The 20s Plenty initiative is something that has taken off in popularity around the country with over 50 towns and boroughs now having such speed limits. Some 15 London boroughs have the limit.

Given local support we can turn Wanstead into a 20 mph zone, an area that will be safer to move about with cleaner air for everyone to breath.

The Labour candidates for Wanstead Village and Wanstead Park are backing the campaign together with other community activists.

 

*published in Wanstead and Woodford Guardian - 15/2/2018

Tories don't care about crime, otherwise they would stop cutting police budgets

It is a bit rich of the Tories to be raising the issue of rising crime in the local area. This is the party that has so savagely cut the Mets  budget by £1 billion since 2010.

Yet, at local level it is as though what head office is up to doesn't matter, with Tory candidates busying themselves vocalising against crime.

The real contempt of the Tory Party for ordinary working people hit by crime was shown recently when the latest Justice Minister David Gauke came to Redbridge.The minister did not even tell Council leader Jas Athwal he was in town. If he had, he would have learnt of the very real local concerns about crime. Instead, Mr Gauke was rallying the Tory troops ready for the council elections in May.

The Tories don't care about crime, indeed they are destabilising our communities with the cuts to police budgets. Recently, Tory councillors voted against a council motion calling for more police funding.

 People are rightly concerned, as was recently evidenced by the huge rally on the subject, addressed by Labour MP Wes Streeting, in Clayhall. 

I am sure the electorate will not be taken in by the Tory crocodile tears now or when they again lose interest in the issue once the May council elections are over.

 

Published - Wanstead and Woodford Guardian - 15/2/2018

Wanstead and Woodford and Ilford Recorders - 15/2/2018

West Ham come out easy winners over Watford

^{West Ham 2-0 Watford}

^{West Ham ran out comfortable winners of this keenly contested mid-table Premiership game.}

^{Boosted by the return of Marko Arnautovic and Michail Antonio to the starting line-up, West Ham were on the front foot from the start.}

^{Arnautovic was a constant threat, twisting and turning his way into the area early on, only to see Joao Mario drive his close range shot straight at Watford keeper Orestis Karnesis.}

^{West Ham then had a Javier Hernandez goal disallowed for offside, after he headed home from another of Mario’s teasing free kicks.  But the home team didn’t have to wait long, with a couple of minutes later Antonio delivering a pinpoint cross from the left that Hernandez similarly nodded home – this time the goal stood.}

^{Watford threatened, with Gerard Deulofeu seeing his goal destined free kick pushed aside by Adrian at full stretch.}

^{The killer goal came in the 77th minute with Aaron Cresswell twice driving the ball across the Watford defence, after taking a short corner to Antonio. The second follow up saw the ball fall kindly for Arnautovic who drove home from a couple of yards.}

^{West Ham boss David Moyes was pleased with the efforts of Arnautovic but believes there is still more to come from the Austrian striker. “Making him the centre forward has geed him up a bit but he still should have scored more,” said Moyes. “If Marko is really fit and in the right frame of mind, he’s very difficult to play against.”}

^{The manager also said he wanted to see more from Antonio, though he conceded he may be a little short of match fitness.}

^{Moyes acknowledged how few points there are between eighth and the bottom of the table, confirming that he wanted to get nearer to the top than bottom come the end of the season}

<sup>Watford manager Javi Gracia felt his side had been outfought in this game. “We can do better and I am confident we will do that,” said Gracia.

published Morning Star - 12/2/2018</sup>

West Ham's financial advance since moving to the London stadium has not been matched by spending on the team

^{The reputation of West Ham United took another knock recently with the reported derogatory comments of director of player  recruitment Tony Henry about not signing African players.}

^{The club dealt quickly with the incident, suspending, then dismissing Henry for the comments.}

^{The incident came quickly on the heels of what many fans considered to be a less than satisfactory month of dealings in the transfer window. The net result was the signing of Joao Mario on loan from Inter Milan and the £10 million signing of Jordan Hugill from Preston North End. Meanwhile, Andre Ayew returned to Swansea for £20 million, whilst Diafra Sakho joined Rennes for around £10 million.}

^{So from a fans perspective it looked as though the club had actually weakened its playing pool as a result of this transfer window rather than strengthened it. Manager David Moyes was putting a brave face on the dealings, insisting he was happy with the situation. However, Moyes repeatedly said during the window that he did not want to lose players and needed to add two or three more.}

^{Amazingly, when the £20 million net gain that West Ham have got from this transfer window is put along side the £20 million net spend in the summer, the club has outlayed absolutely nothing since the January 2017 transfer window closed. Given this situation the work of both David Moyes and Slaven Bilic before him need to be viewed in a particularly positive light.}

^{For the owners the cash cow that is West Ham United at the London Stadium continues to give. The club has 57,000 gates for most home games. TV money is going through the roof,  not to mention the money made from selling the old Boleyn ground - which has now been demolished with flats rising up on the site.}

^{David Moyes and his management team have done a remarkable job since they came in at the beginning of November. The manager has shown an ability to shuffle the pack of players available. He has asserted discipline among the players and improved fitness levels. A recent example of the strict disciplinary code adopted came recently when Michail Antonio was left out of the match day squad because he turned up late for a team meeting.}

^{Moyes has got the team melding together well. He has transformed Marko Arnaoutovic, who made an inauspicious start to the season, following his move from Stoke. Now, he is a fans favourite scoring six goals in a seven game run recently before being hit by injury.}

^{The manager replaced Joe Hart with Adrian, after the latter put in an excellent display against Manchester City. The former England stopper has remained on the sidelines ever since. Moyes has also got the best out of defenders Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaka – until the latters spitting incident saw him suspended for six games and fined £50,000 by the club.}

^{One of the most pleasing elements of the Moyes period in charge has been his willingness to give the young players a chance. Whilst shortage of players has to a degree forced his hand, the manager should still be congratulated for his fearless attitude to giving the likes of Declan Rice, Reece Burke, Josh Cullen, Reece Oxford, Domingos Quina and Toni Martinez a chance to show what they can do. Moyes has probably given the youngsters at West Ham more of a chance over the past three months than any other manager at the club in the past seven years.}

^{So things are progressing on the pitch. The fans have been disappointed at the lamentable exits from both the FA and League Cups but maybe this should not come as too much of a surprise, given the manager was given a brief to keep the club in the Premiership. Hopefully things may change next year if the club are under less pressure in the Premiership.}

^{Moving forward, West Ham should survive in the Premiership, though there will no doubt be some ups and downs along the way. The club has a great tradition for managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.}

^{The hope must then be that Moyes and his team are given the long term contracts and money backing in the transfer market to take the club on. It is a sobering thought for West Ham fans that whilst the financial standing of the club may have advanced with the move to the London Stadium, the team on the pitch has largely gone backward. A team that very nearly got into the top four of the Premiership in 2015/16 (the last season at the Boleyn ground) has sunk down the table in the two seasons since.}

<sup>A home like the London Stadium demands a top six football team, but to achieve that goal, the owners need to reach into their pockets and make the money available to the manager to get the new players he requires. No club stands still in the Premiership, failure to improve a squad usually means struggle and in many cases relegation. West Ham have been lucky to have two such good managers recently who have been able to survive on at times meagre resources. Let’s hope the owners will back David Moyes in the summer with a new contract and the funding he requires to make West Ham into that top six team


*Moyes and Bilic deserve credit for the way that they have kept West Ham competitive https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/moyes-and-bilic-deserve-credit-way-they-have-kept-west-ham-competitive  - Morning Star, 8/2/2018</sup>

Wanstead Village and Wanstead Park Labour candidates pledge support for 20s Plenty initiative

Wanstead Labour candidates have pledged support for the excellent 20s Plenty initiative that was launched at a meeting at Wanstead library last night.

The 20s Plenty initiative is something that has taken off in popularity around the country with over 50 towns and boroughs now having such speed limits. Some 15 London boroughs have the limit.

Jeremy Leach, the London campaign co-ordinator for 20s Plenty, told how for every 1% reduction in speed there is a 6% cut in casualties on the roads.

The group, Living Streets, are keen supporters of the initiative, encouraging people to get out more to exercise and bring the streets to life.

Jeremy highlighted how some of the pedestrianisation measures taken in Waltham Forest had brought the streets back to life. He also highlighted how 39.2% of children at year six age in Redbridge are obese or overweight.

All of these factors add to the attractiveness of the 20s Plenty initiative.  

Labour Village candidates are asking Redbridge Council to look favourably on calls from residents around Wanstead who want limits to be put in place on their roads. The areas around schools should receive special consideration.

“What’s not to like, the 20 mph speed limit makes the roads safer and the air cleaner for those who live in the local area,” said Paul Donovan, Labour candidate for Wanstead Village. “The 20s Plenty initiative is a simple way to counter this threat to life. It also helps combat pollution, which is a major concern of people in Wanstead.”

Fellow candidate, Daniel Morgan-Thomas, said: “We as candidates are keen to support any initiative that will make the streets safer for local residents.

“Driving fast in built up areas puts lives at risk. It is reckless and there have been far too many lives lost due to excess speed."

Labour candidate, Jo Blackman, said: “We as candidates wholeheartedly support the initiative in Wanstead and would encourage the council to consult and introduce the measures as quickly as possible where demand warrants.”

Wanstead Labour Councillor and Candidate for Wanstead Park, Cllr Paul Merry, said: "I’m in favour of 20mph zones in residential areas as adopted across Hackney, Waltham Forest, Newham and in other parts of London - subject to consultation with residents prior to implementation. I’ve already had positive discussions with Cllr John Howard, the Cabinet Member responsible for roads and transport in the borough"

Rod King, MBE, founder and campaign director for 20s Plenty for Us, said: “A national 20mph limit is cost effective. It reduces casualties, improves air quality and raises exercise levels.”

- reported Wanstead and Woodford and Ilford Recorders - "Speed limit campaign" - 1/2/2018